Catalonia down slightly in global PISA student rankings
Scores for science and mathematics fell in Catalan schools taking part in 2018 international assessment program
oecd
Catalan pupils score above Spain, EU and OECD average in PISA tests
The latest PISA survey shows that pupils in Catalonia have performed above the Spanish, European Union and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average in all subjects for the first time since the report series was launched in 2000. Catalan students had never reached a score of 500 in the three Pisa tests, always struggling with scientific and mathematical skills, but this time around they passed all of the exams. The average mark in Science is 504 points (12 points more than in the previous edition three years ago), 500 points in maths (7 more) and 500 in reading comprehension, losing a point compared to 2012. The average in Spain, the EU or the OECD is not 500 points or over for any of the three tests. According to the Catalan Minister for Education, Meritxell Ruiz, the results support the “transformation of the educational model” Catalonia has been undergoing since the introduction of the Education Act of Catalonia (LEC, going by its Catalan initials) in 2009.
Catalan pupils score above the OECD average in Reading but not in Science and Maths
The latest PISA survey shows that pupils in Catalonia perform above the Spanish average in all subjects except Science knowledge. The survey checks the knowledge of 15 year-old students of 34 member countries of the OECD and 31 others associated with this international organization in Reading, Science and Maths. In total, it evaluates up to 300.000 pupils, of which 25.313 are from Spain.
The OECD considers the Catalan Government’s public debt to be “relatively small [...] compared to its spending responsibilities”
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Senior Economist for Spain thinks that the Catalan Government’s budget cuts are going “in the right direction”. He also denied that the Autonomous Communities’ deficit puts Spain solvency’s at risk.
The OECD examines the R&D model in Catalonia
Research and Development in Catalonia is on the good track but still presents important weaknesses to be solved. The Catalan Government stresses the strengths underlined in the OECD study and says that the report is in line with its own action plan.